Assig-nob of one-thied



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MINER CUNNINGHAM, OF FLORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR QF ONE-THIRD I TOTHOMAS BLANCHARD, OF SAME PLACE.

'FlRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 290,177, dated December11, 1883,

' Application filed March 29,1883. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern.-

persons or merchandise from the windows thereof to the ground outsidethe house; .and it has for its obj eat to provide means whereby thedescent of the person will be automatically governed to a safe speed,and whereby the de-' vice may be repeatedly used.

- To this end the invention consists in the construction and combinationof parts, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of myinvention attached to a window-casing, the front plate being removed andother parts broken away to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the same.

or represents the frame of my fire-escape, which is to be secured to theinsidewall of a building, near a window and about three feet from thefloor. A frame about two feet square and seven inches thick wouldanswer, and such will be taken as the proportions of the machine heredescribed. v

A represents a double flanged wheel or drum about eighteen inches indiameter, having a rope, T, wound thereon by means of a crank, H, and ashaft, K, on which said drum is secured. One end of rope T is secured tothe drum, and the'other end, passing over pulleys b and 0 out of thewindow, is provided with any suitable appliances to hold persons ormerchandise. Y

The device I prefer for this purpose is a girth or belt, U, secured atone end to the rope T, and having a snap-hook, X, at its other end, andtwo or more rings, W, secured to said belt at different distancesfromthe hook. The person wishing to descend will pass the belt U aroundhis body close under his arms,

and hook the hook X into the ring W, suiting his size, with the rope Tin front of him. He will then climb out of the window backward anddescend by his own weight, having his hands and feet free to pushhimself away from any projections on the house.

To regulate the speed of descent, I have devised mechanism to check thedrum A from revolving too rapidly. To this end B is a toothed wheelturning freely on shaft K, and having a pawl, E, which engages the teethof a ratchet-wheel, F, which is secured to the drum A.

D is a heavy strong pendulum, pivoted to swing at N, and provided withleaves M, engaging alternately the teeth of wheel B, forming ananchor-escapement.

To economize space, and at the same time to furnish room for a verybroad heavy pendulum, I slot the pendulum D, to swing freely over'themain shaft K. When but light weight is attached to rope T, thisescapement is sufficient to control the speed of descent, and it may beused alone for that purpose but I prefer to use in connection therewitha brake, R, on drum A. This brake is pivoted at P to swing against andbear upon'the flanges of drum A. S is a roller journaled in the brake.Over this roller the rope T passes on its way around the drum, and anystrain on the rope transmits a proportional pressure to the flanges ofthe drum through the brake R. The rope is brought in contact with thedrum again af ter passing under roller S, in order that thefirsttendency of a weight on the rope may be to rotate the drum rather thanto apply the brake, as would be the case if the rope hung directly fromthe brake. Bythis means a heavy person or other weight, while dependingupon rope T, will so balance itself as to start to descend at a safespeed; but as gravity is constantly acting, an'increased speed would beacquired in descending from a great height that would be dangerous. Ihave therefore combined the timing escapement with the self-acting brakeas most suitable for all occasions. I

One person at the crank H may wind up the rope T any number of timesafter others have descended, and he may finally descend when I thereonbetween said flanges, and the crank it is no longer safe to stay. H, ofa brake, R, bearing on the flanges of The machine requires no attentionWhile a drum A, the pulley S, mounted in said brake, descent is beingmade, it being in that respect said rope T passing around the drum,thence I 5 5 automatic in its action. under pulley S, thence back ontothe drum, I am aware that fire-escapes similar to mine thence overpulleys out of awindow, as shown have been patented, and I do not claimthe and described.

same, broadly. JOHN MINER CUNNINGHAM.

\Vhat I claim as 1ny invention is- \Vitnesses: 10 The combination, withthe drum A, having GEORGE MCENDREE,

flanged edges, the rope T, adapted to be wound 1 THOS. BLANCHARD.

